Leveraging Small-Scale Sport Events: Challenges of Organising, Delivering and Managing Sustainable Outcomes in Rural Communities, the Case of Gorski kotar, Croatia

Sports and events play an important role in local identity building and creating a sense of community that encourages participation and increases social capital. Rural communities are specific areas with special needs and can face challenges and restraints when it comes to event organisation. The purpose of this paper is to identify organisational challenges and analyse the potential to achieving long-term sustainable social and economic outcomes linked to small-scale sports events in rural communities. Organisational challenges of rural communities in terms of organising sport events are examined and discussed using the framework of event leveraging developed by O’Brien and Chalip. This methodology is applied and discussed to a case study focusing on small-scale winter sport events in rural Croatia. Semi-structured interviews with local organisers were conducted in order to collect data on the overall event organisation and management, local coordination, role of community stakeholders and challenges facing strategic planning, with the intent to identify objectives for future events. Results were discussed independently and in the context of the leverage framework, with reflection on its applicability to rural communities as the event organisers. Recommendations are provided based on critical insight from the literature and are oriented on how to streamline the process of organising, delivering and managing of events in remote rural communities. Finally, the idea of inter-community organisation is proposed to ensure long-term social and economic benefits and to address the existing issues of overlapping of stakeholder categories, mixed objectives, distrust among stakeholders and inefficiently used local resources

Comparative analysis of numerical computational techniques for determination of the wind turbine aerodynamic performances

The purpose of this paper is to explore and define an adequate numerical setting for the computation of aerodynamic performances of wind turbines of various shapes and sizes, which offers the possibility of choosing a suitable approach of minimal complexity for the future research. Here, mechanical power, thrust, power coefficient, thrust coefficient, pressure coefficient, pressure distribution along the blade, relative velocity contoure, at different wind speeds and streamlines were considered by two different methods: the blade element momentum and CFD, within which three different turbulence models were analyzed. The estimation of the mentioned aerodynamic performances was carried out on two different wind turbine blades. The obtained solutions were compared with the experimental and nominal (up-scaled) values, available in the literature. Although the flow was considered as steady, a satisfactory correlation between numerical and experimental results was achieved. The comparison between results also showed, the significance of selection, regarding the complexity and geometry of the analyzed wind turbine blade, the most appropriate numerical approach for computation of aerodynamic performances

Survey of the family Russulaceae (Agaricomycetes, Fungi) in Montenegro

The paper shows that there are 84 known species of the family Russulaceae in Montenegro, 39 of them belonging to the genus Lactarius and 45 to the genus Russula

Benchmarking service delivery for sports tourism and events: Lessons for Gorski Kotar, Croatia from Pokljuka, Slovenia

Benchmarking is essential for developing destinations to improve and develop their service delivery. Croatia is a well-established summer tourism destination, but more remote (inland) destinations seek to increase their competitiveness to help sustain Croatian tourism year-round—to diversify tourism offerings beyond the (more traditional) sea and sun opportunities. Expanding Croatia’s tourism offer will require additional investments, not only in coastal destinations but in rural continental areas as well. Looking at how more established rural and winter destinations are planned and managed, this paper seeks to discuss how Croatia can learn from its neighbour Slovenia which has well-established winter sports destinations (in rural areas). This is where a benchmarking approach, building on a comparative analysis conducted through fieldwork research contributes new insight. Research was conducted in both Pokljuka (Slovenia) and Gorski kotar (Croatia) between 2015 and 2017. Three different procedures were used to collect data: (1) documental research of the destinations, facilities and events, (2) on site visits involving qualitative interviews and conversations with key stakeholders and (3) direct observation of the destination while attending events. Three emergent themes best reflected the analysed insights from the data collection: Infrastructure, business operations and community involvement/stakeholder participation. To assess different points of service offering and delivery, discussions in Pokljuka were framed around sports tourism opportunities and their established business models to understand planning, management, organisation and service delivery. These same three points are then discussed as opportunities for Gorski kotar. To reiterate the benchmarking focus, first research must present a comparative analysis and then put emphasis on planning and managing service delivery to help highlight how insight from a well-established destination informs emerging destinations with tourism potential. © 2019, Varna University of Management. All rights reserved

Health system performance assessment landscape at the EU level: a structured synthesis of actors and actions

Background: Many policy makers and other stakeholders in the EU have expressed interest in better understanding the performance of their own health systems to identify opportunities for improvement in effectiveness, efficiency and equity. Health system performance assessment (HSPA) has received considerable attention at EU level as an instrument to improve transparency and accountability. This is equally important for population health and sustainable health spending. The goal of this paper is to synthesise and map the current state and developments in the field of HSPA relevant in the EU context and by this aid the navigation in the growing HSPA system, understand the available tools and identify opportunities for improvement. Methods: Structured synthesis of the literature on initiatives in the field of HSPA at EU level was carried out. Key literature was identified by a focused review performed between October 2015 and June 2016 on websites of key institutions including the EU, OECD and WHO and Google engine. We used six predefined criteria for identifying key literature. Identified initiatives were classified according to analytical and conceptual output or whether a guiding or advisory role was resumed. A visual map of the relationships between the different actions and actors involved in HSPA was developed. In addition, expert opinion was sought to refine the map. Results: We identified a total of 64 relevant initiatives and their relationships in the field of HSPA. These include institutions such as the European Commission (73%), European Council (8%), OECD (9%) and WHO-EUR (9%). 24 initiatives produced analytical outputs, four developed conceptual outputs and six had a guiding role. The role of the EU in HSPA and collaboration with other key actors have intensified considerably since the adoption of the EU Health Strategy in 2013. The EU HSPA landscape is complex with seemingly few streamlining activities. Conclusions: Knowledge transfer and exchange of expertise are key to HSPA. While cooperation between the key actors have intensified recently and clearly reflect the "Health in all Policies" (HIAP) approach, there is considerable room for improved streamlining activities to share knowledge and avoid overlapping efforts, especially within the European Commission

Simulation of crack propagation in titanium mini dental implants (MDI)

Unapređenja u proizvodnji mini dentalnih implantata (MDI) su uglavnom usmerena ka povećanju njihove biokompatibilnosti i, u isto vreme, izdržljivosti i bezbednosti, ali i ka smanjenju njihovih dimenzija u odnosu na postojeće implantate. Međutim, tokom ugradnje MDI-a može doći do njegovog loma ili nastanka prsline koja kasnije može prouzrokovati lom. Da bi se analiziralo širenje prsline u titanijumskom MDI-u, korišćeni su softveri za primenu metode konačnih elemenata (MKE) ANSYS v13 i FRANC3D v5. Korišćenjem FRANC3D programa izmodelirane su prsline različitih veličina i oblika na 3D geometriji MDI-a i izvršeno je simuliranje njihovog širenja. Na osnovu rezultata simulacije izračunat je približan zamorni vek oštećenog MDI-a.Developments in mini dental implants (MDI) manufacturing are aimed at making them more biocompatible and, at the same time, lighter, more durable and simultaneously safer than the existing implants. But, occasionally, during installation the failure of MDI may occur or cracks may appear, which could lead to the later failure of MDI. In order to understand and assess crack growth in titanium MDI, Finite Element (FE) software packages ANSYS v13 and FRANC3D v5 have been used. Using FRANC3D software different crack sizes and shapes have been modeled and simulations of crack propagations in three-dimensional model of MDI have been performed. Based on simulation results, the approximate fatigue life of damaged MDI was calculated

Simulation of crack propagation in titanium mini dental implants (MDI)

Unapređenja u proizvodnji mini dentalnih implantata (MDI) su uglavnom usmerena ka povećanju njihove biokompatibilnosti i, u isto vreme, izdržljivosti i bezbednosti, ali i ka smanjenju njihovih dimenzija u odnosu na postojeće implantate. Međutim, tokom ugradnje MDI-a može doći do njegovog loma ili nastanka prsline koja kasnije može prouzrokovati lom. Da bi se analiziralo širenje prsline u titanijumskom MDI-u, korišćeni su softveri za primenu metode konačnih elemenata (MKE) ANSYS v13 i FRANC3D v5. Korišćenjem FRANC3D programa izmodelirane su prsline različitih veličina i oblika na 3D geometriji MDI-a i izvršeno je simuliranje njihovog širenja. Na osnovu rezultata simulacije izračunat je približan zamorni vek oštećenog MDI-a.Developments in mini dental implants (MDI) manufacturing are aimed at making them more biocompatible and, at the same time, lighter, more durable and simultaneously safer than the existing implants. But, occasionally, during installation the failure of MDI may occur or cracks may appear, which could lead to the later failure of MDI. In order to understand and assess crack growth in titanium MDI, Finite Element (FE) software packages ANSYS v13 and FRANC3D v5 have been used. Using FRANC3D software different crack sizes and shapes have been modeled and simulations of crack propagations in three-dimensional model of MDI have been performed. Based on simulation results, the approximate fatigue life of damaged MDI was calculated

Susceptibility of red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) populations from Serbia to contact insecticides

Contact insecticides remain the principal option for controlling stored-product insects. Unsatisfactory results of insecticide applications are caused by several factors, one of the most important being resistance of stored-product insects. The objective of this study was to examine the susceptibility in several populations of red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) from Serbia to different contact insecticides. Toxicity of the insecticides dichlorvos, malathion, chlorpyrifos-methyl, pirimiphos-methyl, deltamethrin and bifenthrin to adults of a laboratory population of T. castaneum was investigated in the laboratory by topical application. At the LD50, deltamethrin was the most toxic and malathion the least toxic of the insecticides. Discriminating dose data for the laboratory population were used to test the susceptibility of 10 other populations originating from different storage facilities (silos, warehouses and flour mills) in Serbia. The discriminating dose of malathion caused mortality of up to 85% in seven populations, indicating malathion resistance in those populations. For two populations of T. castaneum from Nikinci and Jakovo LD values, ld-p lines and levels of susceptibility/resistance (RRs) were determined. The most toxic insecticide for adults from Nikinci and Jakovo was deltamethrin, while malathion was least toxic. The resistance ratios (RRs) for malathion at the LD50 were 17.6 for beetles from Nikinci, and 26.0 for beetles from Jakovo. Keywords: Tribolium castaneum adults; Different populations; Insecticide toxicity; Susceptibility resistanc

Design of Fixed Bed Column for Lead Removal on Natural Zeolite Based on Batch Studies

This paper presents the prediction of breakthrough curves for the fixed bed column based on batch studies. Batch equilibrium studies of lead removal on natural zeolite clinoptilolite have been performed. The obtained experimental data have been tested according to the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherm, and their parameters have been calculated. These parameters and the Mass Transfer Model have been used to predict theoretical breakthrough curves. Theoretical breakthrough curves have been compared with the experimental ones and good agreement has been observed. This indicates that the Mass Transfer Model is applicable for prediction of breakthrough curves from batch studies. The overall mass transfer coefficient has been calculated from column experiments. This value allows for calculation of the height of the mass transfer zone as a very important parameter necessary for column design